DBR Hallowe’en Review
Well well well… It seemed a long time in coming and then… BLAM! It was gone… but what an amazing night!
After five bands, two DJs, 50 free CDs, 250 stickers and countless horrific scenes later the Destroy before Reading Hallowe’en extravaganza came to a close… Firstly, thanks! It was very busy, people were awesome to each other…
First up, on the four-band bill downstairs, were Airburst – mixing 90s grunge, 70′s groove with an alt.rock lilt to their gait they made for a perfect opener. Airburst are clearly tuned in to each others rock frequencies with each never looking for a reassuring look from another band member – and more importantly never apologising. Heads down. Horns up. If pushed, I guess you could say that the Yorkshire boys could appear dated but I think it is just testament to their approach to music and their far-reaching influences. Kings of Leon they aint and all the better for it.
Next in the saddle are SkullBone, voodoo make up ‘an all. SB rarely play so it is not a complete surprise the set is not as tight as it could be, with false starts and the odd stop for tuning – Rob even ran backstage at one point as he had forgotten to bring his guitar slide with him! It rally didn’t matter though as the crowd were on their side and their set of stripped down, ear-splitting, country-core went down like warm blood.
The unassuming acoustic guitar set of Californian Jake La Botz takes the stage (floor?) and quickly draws people in from upstairs – his blend of traditional country-blues has a real, whiskey soaked, street hardened edge to it and makes a real impression on the Rockbar crowd. This boy can holla! “Hey… it’s a full moon outside and this song tells the story of the howling wolf… hhhoooowwwwlllllllll!!!!!!” laughed Jake who quickly turned the crowd on to his bluesey drawl. California to Doncaster is a long way to come for a half hour set but I’m sure he’ll be welcomed back in a hurry should he be passing through again.
The night is now in full swing… the sounds of the 50s and 60s are wafting down from “Night of the swinging dead” under way in the upstairs bar…
OFM are drunk. Really drunk. It’s Ben’s (vocals) birthday today and he has consumed lord knows bottles of Newcastle’s finest export. We are all unsure at this stage if this set will actually happen at all…
Thankfully, the band are used to alchohol-induced obstacles and they launch into a set of their trademark alt-rock popness without hesitation. The songs written for their, as yet unreleased, second album sound great and it is testament to the quality of the tunes that, even played as loosely as they are tonight, sound every bit the hit factory that they do on record.
Once the downstairs bands had cleared, the party continues upstairs at Swingers… The five pieces of the Black Lightnings are crammed in a corner, pushed for time (aiming for a midnight start) and receiving little help from the aggressive bar manager – but eventually, after much pushing and shoving, get set up and ready to play. Rock n Roll covers are the order of the day and is perfect end to the night.
This is a band with people who play proper instruments, sax, guitar, drums (well, not all proper instruments obviously), upright bass and piano and make a rousing noise. Furious foot-tapping ensues.
Thanks to those who played a part.
GALLERY
